Safety tip sheets

Blog Disclaimer

The views expressed on this blog reflect the personal opinion of the individual author and do not necessarily represent the views or policies of NFPA, its technical committees, or other constituent parts. Use of this blog is subject to NFPA's Terms of Use and Content Disclaimers.

Videos

02/27/2015

If you're like most of us this winter, the endless snow storms and frigid temperatures have kept you inside more than you would like. This cold has also turned us to the kitchen where creating and indulging in plates of "comfort food" feels like the best remedy for beating out the winter blues.

But for those of us who are a little worse for wear (at least here in New England, shoveling has become a daily task, and getting around is a test in sheer nerves and patience), it's easy to forget the "little things" meant to keep us safe in the kitchen. So, if you'll allow us to indulge (no pun intended!) you just a bit, NFPA wants to remind everyone about the action steps you can take when that fabulous mac and cheese recipe starts calling your name! Watch our latest cooking fire safety video below (and share it with family and friends!) and remember to put safety first this winter season.

02/26/2015

March is National Reading Month, which is devoted to creating opportunities for children to fall in love with reading and discover new ways to celebrate the joys of reading. Sparky the Fire Dog® can be a great resource as plans get underway.

02/03/2015

Burn Awareness Week is being observed this first full week of February. It’s designed to provide an opportunity for burn, and fire and life safety educators to unite in sharing burn prevention information with the public.

Scald burns are the second leading cause of all burn injuries. In addition to explaining how to treat a burn, NFPA’s Scald Prevention Safety Tips sheet provides a list of safety behaviors to be used while running bath water for a child, using a microwave oven, and heating liquids on the stove.

The community toolkit on cooking safety has a number of resources safety educators can use to reach the public, including a PowerPoint presentation on how to prevent cooking fires, scalds, and burns; an easy-to-read handout on how to be fire safe in the kitchen; talking points; fact sheets; videos; and community outreach ideas.

NFPA’s consumer cooking safety information also provides another excellent resource to help with sharing the fire and burn prevention message with the public.

01/08/2015

NFPA's lovable Dan Doofus is back with a new video for the new year. Dan is reminding everyone to make sure they have enough smoke alarms in the home, test them monthly, and replace them every 10 years. The Dan Doofus series of videos is intended to convey a safety message in a light-hearted, entertaining way. They are not intended for children.

NFPA has developed several videos to help individuals, families, and communities learn about the importance of installing and maintaining working smoke alarms in the home.

12/15/2014

In his latest video series, Sparky the Fire Dog® teaches children the importance of wildfire safety. The series, which includes three videos, provides a fun, easy way parents and children can work together to help reduce the risk of wildfire damage to their homes and around their neighborhoods.

12/11/2014

Campus Firewatch, which works to improve fire safety at schools and in communities, has found a creative way to talk about the importance of smoke alarms.

Its “Smoke Alarms, Every House, Every Floor” video was developed using VideoScribe software, which creates whiteboard animation for visual storytelling. Through fast-paced illustrations and writing, the video explains the importance of having working smoke alarms on every floor of the home.

As a regional advisor to NFPA’s Public Education Division, I spend much of my time helping state educators develop the most educationally sound fire and life safety information they can for the public. One of the many rewarding parts of my job is when an educator finds a new approach for getting an audience enthusiastic about safety.

Captain Ben Hammond of the Sheridan Fire Department in Sheridan, Arkansas, has had that experience. His department conducts fire prevention assemblies throughout the year for approximately 1,400 students from grades Pre-K through 6. He told me that he recently showed "What’s That Sound?," NFPA’s fire safety video with Recess Monkey and Sparky the Fire Dog, for the first time to 200 third graders at Sheridan Intermediate School. “The results were awesome,” he said. “Watching the kids sing along and copy the moves of Recess Monkey was not only fun but satisfying. I know the message was being received.”

Captain Hammond said a bonus was the response he got from Sheridan Intermediate School Principal Annette Neely. He said she didn’t know that Sparky's School House website materials are aligned to Common Core State Standards and was impressed.

As public educators we often provide messaging to groups who’ve heard it before. But as long as we have tools that help us present the message to the public creatively, we’ll have new ways to pique their curiosity, get them interested in learning more and help them make good choices when it comes to their safety.

12/03/2014

It's amazing how fast the holidays come and go, don't you think? I liken the season to a fast moving train, with many moving parts and lots and lots of shopping! With Thanksgiving now in the rear-view mirror, we get to look forward to Hanukkah and Christmas. But as we've mentioned before, it's important to keep in mind certain dangers holiday celebrations can bring, if we're not careful. Remember that fast moving train I just talked about?

NFPA and the USFA have teamed up again this season for its "Put a Freeze on Winter Fires" campaign to share its best fire and life safety information with you this season. We get it; we're all busy, rushing to and fro, so we suggest, take a moment, catch your breath, and take some time to really consider safety as part of your holiday and all-around winter routine.

This week, the emphasis is on holiday decorations. NFPA and USFA have some great tips and resources you can use as you deck the halls and prepare your home for guests. For instance, we all love the look and smell of candles, as well as how they make us feel. But this year, let's consider the alternative: battery-operated flameless candles. I know, you probably think they don't offer the same kind of ambiance you find with real candles but I have to say, they really are great! Flameless candles have come a long way these days ... they smell like real candles, come in all shapes and sizes and colors, and the "flame" flickers just like a real flame would, too. And as we're all trying to save a few dollars here and there, consider flameless candles as a way to keep your budget on track. Flameless candles can be reused each year, saving you lots of money and time! You should definitely try them out!

And remember, as you continue your shopping and decorating, add one extra item to your list: flameless candles. Enjoy this holiday season knowing you've taken one step further to ensuring you and your family stay safe this holiday season and all winter long!

The videos complement other youth-related wildfire information including interactive games, quizzes and artwork, and teaching materials. And don't forget, you can share these videos and other great resources with family and friends!

11/17/2014

Winter officially arrives in five weeks. Now is the perfect time to get prepared for the heating season. You can start by reviewing the NFPA heating safety tips sheet, which has details on how to maintain heating equipment, operate it safely, and respond to warning signs of equipment malfunction. "Get Ahead of the Winter Freeze," which can be customized with the fire department or organization name and contact information, includes 10 tips for winter safety with an easy-to-follow checklist. If you'd like to watch heating safety tips in addition to reading about them, the heating web page has videos on home heating safety and heating equipment.